Postcard construction



Aug 16, 1966 s..1. HEUBERGER 3,266,714

POSTCARD CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 21, 1964 INVENTOR SAMUELJ. HEUBERGER ATTOEA/EYS y 3,266,714 Patented August I6, 1966 3,266,714 IS'ICARDCQNSTRIJCTIN Samuel Il. Henberger, 6942 N. Kenneth, Lincolnwood, Ill.Filed Sept. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 397,954 '6 Claims. (ICI. 229-923) Thisinvention relates t-o a postcard construction adapted to be utilized-for the mailing of photographs and similar articles. The constructioncontemplated is designed whereby the postcard can be employed in aconventlonal fashion in addition to achieving the added advantages ofmailing a photograph.

In a conventional postcard construction, a sheet o-f relatively stiffpaper is utilized with one side of the paper being employed foraddressing the card while the other side carries the message to .betransmitted. In a picture postcard construction, Ithe picture is printedon one side while the other side is employed for both addressmg the cardand for the message.

It will be appreciated that with such conventional cards, the message islimited to written material or to material which can be printed onto thecard surface. Where one desires to mail photographs or the like, it isnecessary to employ conventional envelopes.

The instant invention is directed to a means which permits the use of apostcard construction and at the same time enables one to mailphotographs. Thus, the advantages of the postcard construction from thestandpoint of ease of use can be obtained while the writer is notrestricted to written or printed messages.

Mailing pieces have previously been devised with the purpose in mind ofsending photographs. These include postcard constructions such asdescribed in United States Patents Nos'. 1,008,195, 2,256,399 and2,576,667. In these previous constructions, various means were employedfor holding a photograph in place; however, constructions of this typeare not considered acceptable dlue to the fact that the p-ostcardconstructions are unduly complicated, are difficult to use, and areexpensive to manufacture.

It is one subject of this invention to provide a postcard constructionwhich is uniquely suitable for the mailing of photographs while at thesame time, embodying all of the convenience of a conventional postcard.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a postcardconstruction of the type described which is simple in construction andin use whereby it can be economically manufactured and will besusceptible to general usage by the publi-c due to its convenience.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter andfor purposes of illustration but not of limitation, specific embodimentsof this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of one side of a postcard construction of thetype contemplated;

-F-IGURE 2 is a plan view of the reverse side of the construction;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a blank suitable for the manufacture of theconstruction of FIGURES 1 and 2;

IFIGURE 4 is a plan view of a blank suitable for the manufacture of analternative construction;

FIGUR'E 5 is a perspective view illustrating one manner in which theblank of FIGURE 4 can be employed;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a blank suitable for the formation of afurther alternative form of the invention; and,

FIGURE 7 is a sectioned perspective view of a container constructionadapted to be employed for the postcards of this invention.

The instant invention generally comprises a postcard construction whichcan be formed from a oneepiece blank. The blank includes iirst andsecond sections with a cutout portion being dened by one of thesections. A line dividing the sections per-mits folding thereof so thatthe opposed interior faces of the respective sections will dene at leastone interior pocket for receiving photographs.

v The cutout portions, which correspond in number to the pockets denedin the sections, are covered by a transparent sheet, as of cellophane,and when the blank is folded, the pocket will be visible through thistransparent sheet. Accordingly, a photograph inserted in the pocket willbe visible through the sheet. When the postcard is provided with thenecessary address and stamp, and with a written message where desired,the card can be mailed in a conventional fashion.

In the preferred form of the instant invention, a tab member is formedintegrally with the one-piece blank. This tab member extends outwardlyfrom one edge of the b-lank, and a corresponding slot is formed adjacentan opposite edge of the blank. When the blank is folded, the tab memberis adapted to be inserted in a co-rmespondin-g slot. The tab members andslots are located in alignment with the pockets which hold thephotographs. Accordingly, the tab members serve to block off the accessto these pockets whereby the photographs will be secured within thepockets after the tab members are positioned. This will preventaccidental displacement of the photographs during mailing.

In the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates one view of aconst-ruction I0 comprising one form of the instant invention. As showntherein, the Vconstruction includes a section 1,2 which deiines a cutoutportion 14. A transparent sheet lr6 extends over the opening so' thatone can see into the interior ot the construction.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the opposite side of the construction 10'comprising section 18. This section is divided by the line kZtl into aportion 22 for writing the message, and a portion 24 for addressing thecard.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a blank 26 which is employed for forming aconstruction of the typeshown in FIG- URES 1 and 2.` It will be apparentthat the sections 12 and 18 are yfolded over about the line 2S toprovide the assembly illustrated in the other igures. Adhesive portions30 are formed on the respective sections so that the assembly will beclosed with the exception of the opening dend between the edges 32 and34. It will be apparent that when the blank is folded and adheredtogether at its side edges, a pocket will be formed permitting theinsertion of a photo-graph which can be viewed through the transparentsheet 16'.

In-tegrally formed with the edge 34 is a tab member 36. A slot 38 isformed adjacent the edge 32 and after a photograph is inserted, a tabmember 36k is adapted to be bent, and then received by the slot 3S. Asbest shown in FIGURE 2, the tab 36 closes off the access to the interiorof the construction so that a photograph will not be dislodged duringmailing of the postcard.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a blank comprising an arrange ment generallycorresponding to the previously disclosed construction.- In thearrangement, however, a pair of cutout portions 4b are formed in thesection 42. An individual transparent sheet 44 may be provided for eachcuto-ut portion, however, it will be obvious that a single transparentsheet could extend across the entire section. Adhesive is formed alongthe lateral edges of the blank at 46, and an additional line of adhesiveis formed at the center of the blank at 48. When the card is assembled,a pair of pockets will be formed with accesses being provided betweenthe adhesively secured portions. Tab members 50 and corresponding slotsS2 operate to close 0H the individual pockets in the same manner asdescribed above.

yIt will be noted that the blank of FIGURE 4 denes a central score line54. As shown in FIGURE 5, the assembled blank, designated 56, can bebent about the score line 54 whereby the card can be supported in anupright position on a table surface 58. This arrangement adds to theadvantages of a construction of the type contemplated by this invention,and it will be understood that a similar feature is contemplated forother alternative forms of the invention.

The alternative `form shown in FIGURE 6 embodies a blank 60 whichincludes sections 62 and 64. The section 64 delines a cutout portion 66and carries a transparent sheet 68. A tab member 70 and slot 72 functionin the manner described above, and adhesive 74 is provided along thelate-ra-l edges of the construction to provide the desired closure.Additional adhesive 76 is pro- 'vided along the top and bottom edges ofthe blank to close off the construction except in the area of thepocket.

FIGURE 6 also illustrates a sheet 78 which comprises a background sheetattached to the section 62. Written information 80 is displayed by thissheet whereby one purchasing the card may determine the steps necessaryfor its use.

The box construction 812 of FIGURE 7 has been found to be particularlysuitable for the carrying of cards of the type of this invention. Thisbox is of a conventional rectangular shape; however, it includesshoulder portions 84 displosed along its bottom edges. It will beapparent that the cards of this invention such as shown in broken linesat 86 can be readily stored in a box of this type. The bottom edge ofthe card will rest on the shoulders while the ta-b portion 88 will ridefree from contact with the bottom 90 of the construction. Accordingly,the cards can be placed in the container in an orderly fashion withoutdiiculty.

It will be appreciated that the postcard construction which has beendescribed embodies advantages over conventional postcards. With theconstruction described, one can readily mail a photograph along with awritten message. |There is little additional effort necessary ascompared to .the use of a conventional postcard.

One of the most signicant factors of the instant invention involves thesimplicity of its manufacture. The cards can be formed from a one-pieceblank which includes the tab and slot members. The application of thecellophane or other transparent material to form a window is elementary,as is the application o-f the adhesive and the forming of the blank intothe desired construction. Finally, the use of the blank, which requiresonly the insertion of a photograph and the placement of the tab, is anelementary operation.

In the above description and in the drawings, the cutout portionreferred to has been rectangular in shape. It will be appreciated,however, that the functions of the instant invention can be readilyachieved when these cutout portions comprise other shapes includinground and oval shapes or various decorative shapes. In addition, variousconfigurations which relate to a particular holiday season are clearlypossible insofar as these cutout portions are concerned.

It will be understood that various changes and modiications may be madein the construction described which provide the characteristics of thisinvention without departing from the spirit thereof particularly asdened in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A postcard construction comprising front and back sections divided bya fold line, at least one cutout portion defined by one of saidsections, a transparent sheet extending over said cutout portion, saidconstruction being folded on said fold line to thereby form the top edgeof the construction, and said construction being sealed at least aboutits side edges to thereby form a pocket between said sections, saidconstruction being open along the bottom edge adjacent said cutoutportion whereby access to said pocket is available and whereby aphotograph can be inserted into said pocket for viewing of saidphotograph through said transparent sheet, a tab member formedintegrally with the bottom edge of one of said sections and a slotformed adjacent the bottom edge of the other of said sections, said tabbeing adapted to be bent over relative to the section to which it isattached and said slot being dimensioned to receive said tab', said tabbeing located in line with said cutout portion whereby said tab willextend over the access opening to said pocket when it is received insaid slot to thereby serve `as a means for holding a photograph in saidpocket.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein a single largecutout portion is provided in said one section.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein a pair of cutoutportions are provided in the same section of said construction.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 3 including a score lineextending perpendicular to said fold line whereby said const-ruction canbe folded along a vertical line and can be supported in an uprightposition while standing on its bottom edge.

`5. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including a backgroundsheet formed on the interior surface of the section opposite the sectioncarrying the cutout portion whereby said background sheet will bevisible through said cutout por-tion, and wherein said background sheetcarries directions for the use of said construction.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein a single cutoutportion is provided on one side of one of said sections and writtenmaterial is provided on the opposite side of this section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 198,322 12/ 1877Totten 229-927 2,209,601 7/1940| Heywood f 229-928 X 2,256,995 9/ 1941Andres 229-14 FOREIGN PATENTS 579,278 7/1959 Canada.

328,396 4/ 1903 France.

701,427 1/19-3i1 France.

112,504 l/19l8t Great Britain.

927,561 5/ 1963 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

D. M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner.

1. A POSTCARD CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING FRONT AND BACK SECTIONS DIVIDED BYA FOLD LINE, AT LEAST ONE CUTOUT PORTION DEFINED BY ONE OF SAIDSECTIONS, A TRANSPARENT SHEET EXTENDING OVER SAID CUTOUT PORTION, SAIDCONSTRUCTION BEING FOLDED ON SAID FOLD LINE TO THEREBY FORM THE TOP EDGEOF THE CONSTRUCTION, AND SAID CONSTRUCTION BEING SEALED AT LEAST ABOUTITS SIDE EDGES TO THEREBY FORM A POCKET BETWEEN SAID SECTIONS, SAIDCONSTRUCTION BEING OPEN ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGE ADJACENT SAID CUTOUTPORTION WHEREBY ACCESS TO SAID POCKET IS AVILABLE AND WHEREBY APHOTOGRAPH CAN BE INSERTED INTO SAID POCKET FOR VIEWING OF SAIDPHOTOGRAPH THROUGH SAID TRANSPARENT SHEET, A TAB MEMBER FORMEDINTERGRALLY WITH THE BOTTOM EDGE OF ONE OF SAID SECTIONS AND A SLOTFORMED ADJACENT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE OUTER OF SAID SECTIONS, SAID TABBEING ADAPTED TO BE BENT OVER RELATIVE TO THE SECTION TO WHICH IT ISATTACHED AND SAID SLOT BEING DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVE SAID TAB, SAID TABBEING LOCATED IN LINE WITH SAID CUTOUT PORTION WHEREBY SAID TAB WILLEXTEND OVER THE ACCESS OPENING TO SAID POCKET WHEN IT IS RECEIVED INSAID SLOT TO THEREBY SERVE AS A MEANS FOR HOLDING A PHOTOGRAPH IN SAIDPOCKET